Summer recess – and a trip or two – ahead for California Legislature

They’ve got cap and trade settled and a whole slew of demanding bills either killed or pressed out onto either chamber floor. Now, lawmakers have a monthlong break before the Legislature reconvenes from summer recess on Aug. 21.

Not everyone always chooses to slow down and unwind. The state Senate will send its 17th official delegation to Japan on July 27 to strengthen positive ties between the two regions. Members – Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León and Sens. Steven Bradford, D-Gardena, Bob Hertzberg, D-Los Angeles, Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, and Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens –will hold bilateral meetings with state and local government leaders in Japan to discuss topics ranging from the economy to public health. Sen. Bob Wieckowski, D-Fremont, who took the second-most amount of sponsored trips last calendar year (with $23,156 in travel), will also be attending. The trip will be paid for by members with their campaign funds.

In case you were wondering, Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, who accepted more in sponsored trips last year than any other legislator (worth $26,790 over 10 trips) will not be taking a sponsored trip this month.

When the Legislature returns in August, Gov. Jerry Brown has promised it will address housing.

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BREAKING GROUND: On Friday, Brown will join local, stale and national transportation, business and government leaders in Millbrae to commemorate the start of the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project. The project seeks to convert Caltrain services from diesel equipment to high-performance electric trains, in line with Brown’s legislative agenda. Proponents expect it will reduce freeway congestion and travel times fro the 65,000 weekday commuters, improve regional air quality and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at the Millbrae Caltrain Station, and is open only to invited guests and credentialed media.

THE BASICS: Join the Native American Heritage Commission for a hearing and roundtable on the basics of protecting tribal cultural resources under the California Natural Resources Agency (CEQA), following the passage of Assembly Bill 52 in 2014, which affords California’s native people a voice on development that could affect their sacred sites and reforms CEQA. Speakers will include Merri Lopez-Keiffer, the commission’s secretary; Terrie Robinson, the commission’s general counsel; and Courtney Coyle, an attorney. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. at the Caltrans District 11 Building, at 4050 Taylor St. in San Diego.

BRING YOUR SUNSCREEN: Kaiser Permanente’s weekly Walk to Thrive in downtown Sacramento takes off from the Capitol Mall Farmers Market at 6th and Capitol Mall at 11:45 a.m. today. Be sure to register before you go.

WEED IN YOUR WATER: Have you ever wondered how your water quality might be affected by commercial recreational and medicinal grow cannabis cultivation? The State Water Resources Control Board today will host the first of two hearings on a draft of a Cannabis Cultivation Policy, where staff will discuss proposals to protect springs, wetlands and aquatic habitats from the negative impacts of cannabis cultivation and how best to limit water quality degradation in surface and groundwater resources.

CELEBRATE: The Bee would like to wish a happy birthday to Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, who turns 38 on Friday. The Bee would also like to wish Assemblyman Frank Bigelow, R-O’Neals, a happy birthday. On Saturday, he’ll turn 63.